Outlet box



Get. 18, 1932. D JR 1,883,621

OUTLET BOX Original Filed May 17. 1929 J 5 l 5 I 7 I I gwoeml oc Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTLET BOX Application filed May 17, 1929, Serial No. 363,895. Renewed November 14, 1931.

. connector the connector being of the separable type having plugging contacts.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a structure of this type wherein all of the parts are secured to or carried by the cover of the outlet box, so as to be removable as a unit therewith, and to further provide a construction wherein but one of the connector sections is exposed or projects below the cover of the box, and to provide for in stantaneous removal and replacement of such connector section without disturbing any of the remaining parts of the structure.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the present invention applied to a ceiling, and

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1 with the lower connector section removed, and

Fig. 3 is the plugging part of the connector.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention, a standard form of outlet box 1 which may be hexagonal, round or other shape, is employed and which has a cover plate 2 secured to the box by means of screws 3. The connector is composed of an upper section 4 and a lower section 5, the two having plugging contacts, the plugging contacts of the section 4 being shown at 4a. The section 4 is formed preferably with integral ears 5 which extend outwardly therefrom in diametrically opposed relation and which are perforated to receive screws 6 by means of which the connector section 4 is firmly attached to the upper face of the cover plate 2. It will thus be seen that the section 4 is disposed completely within the box and is concealed from view by the cover plate and at the same time is removable with the latter.

As depicted in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the

* cover plate is formed with elongated opposed slots 7 preferably of oval form, through which the plugging contacts or blades 11 of the section 5 freely project and engage with contacts 4a of the section 4 by plugging action, thereby to enable the plugging contacts of the section 5 to be easily and quickly brought into and out of engagement with those of the section 4. The section 5 is of ring-like form as shown in the drawing, and

is freely movable into and out of operative position, and over a hook 8 which latter has its shank riveted or headed as shown as 10 into engagement with the cover plate 2. It will be understood that the hook 8 is designed to receive a chain or other suspension device for a lighting fixture.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention provides a simple mounting for the hook as well as for the connector, and at the same time one wherein the connector section 5 can be easily and quickly removed without disturbing the remaining parts and likewise applied in position.

What is claimed is 1. An outlet box having a cover, a lighting fixture supporting hook depending from and having one end riveted to said cover, a sectional connector having plugging contacts and having ears on one of its sections and screws to secure said ears and thereby the connector member to the upper face of the cover, the other connector member being provided with an opening for passing over the supporting hook and plugging contacts for engagement with cooperating contacts of said Q first named member, said cover having apertures to receive the plugging contacts of the other connector member so as to removably dispose the latter on the under face of the cover and in surrounding relation to the hook when the connector members are brought into operative relation.

2. An outlet box having a cover, a lighting fixture supporting member secured to and depending from the cover, a sectional connector having plugging contacts, and means to secure one of the connector sections within the box and to the upper side of the cover, the other connector section being disposed beneath the cover and being formed to receive the fixture supporting member therethrough, said cover having apertures to receive the plugging contacts of the said section beneath the cover.

3. An outlet box having a cover, a lighting fixture supporting member secured to and depending from the cover, a sectional connector having plugging contacts, and means to secure one of the connector sections within the box and to the upper side of the cover, the other connector section being disposed beneath the cover and being formed to receive the fixture supporting member therethrough.

4. An outlet box having a cover, a lighting fixture supporting means carried by the cover, a sectional connector, and means to secure one of the sections to the cover within the box,

the other section being disposed exteriorlyof the cover and having an opening to receive said fixture supporting means.

5. A11 outlet box cover carrying on its upper side one part of atwo part electrical connector and having a fixture supporting hook depending fromits lower side and provided with openings to permit passage of electrical contacts, the other part of the two part connector having an opening for receiving the hookandplugging contacts for engaging through the cover with the first of said connector members when the two members are brought into operative relation.

6. An outlet boxcover carryingone part of a two part connector on one side and a lighting fixture supporting means on the other, the other part of the connector having an opening through which the supportingmeans projects to engage with the fixture when the connector parts are brought together.

Intestimony whereofI affix my signature.

HENRY DOLIER, JR. 

